CFO Nikki Boldy celebrates 25 years with Virginia Health Services

It started with a part-time job while in college.

Virginia Health Services CFO Nikki Boldy worked in billing while pursuing a degree in business administration with an accounting concentration at Christopher Newport University.

The Newport News native, a graduate of Menchville High School, has lived on the Peninsula her whole life.

This year, Boldy celebrates her 25th year with Virginia Health Services.

Throughout her tenure, she has seen and been a part of the company’s growth and success.

She’s been through two technology overhauls in shifts from paper time cards to electronic ones, and the conversion to electronic medical records. She was with VHS for the acquisitions of two convalescent centers, the start up of five companies and two major changes to Medicare reimbursement.

Through it all, her reason for staying in one spot has been consistent: “The people. I work with a wonderful team.”

Several faces in the finance department have stayed the same, while it has grown to include new ones.

“If you look at the longevity of the accounting department, it speaks volumes about our team,” Boldy said.

She was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in July 2020, previously serving as the Controller.

Boldy was honored for her 25 years of service at an awards ceremony May 13, 2021, during celebrations throughout the company for National Skilled Nursing Care Week.

VHS uses the week as an opportunity to celebrate its team members with service awards and other recognitions, food and fun activities.

VHS CEO Mark Klyczek congratulates Joyce Stevens on 25 years of service.

Eight were honored during a ceremony at the corporate offices in Newport News for having five or more years of service, including Joyce Stevens, a housekeeper who has been with the company for 25 years.

Longevity in the company can be attributed to opportunities to be promoted from within, Boldy said.

She served as a biller, billing supervisor and accounting supervisor for VHS before promotions to Controller and CFO.

“I have been fortunate to be able to progress with one company,” she said. “VHS has always treated me well. I have worked my way up, and been rewarded along the way for doing good work.”

She added, “VHS wants to be able to help employees better themselves and move up, if that is what they wish to do. You see it in the longevity of members of the team.”

Boldy said she got advice along the way to help open more doors for her, including from a professor at CNU who encouraged her to add a concentration in accounting – even though she knew she didn’t want to be a public accountant – and from a former manager at VHS, who encouraged her to get a CPA license.

“I’m glad she did,” Boldy said. “I don’t know that I would have taken it upon myself to do it.”

Outside of work, she said her happy place is outdoors in the sun, preferably on a beach with a book.

VHS thanks its dedicated employees. It honored about 65 employees across its business units this week for their service of 10 or more years.

Learn more about joining our team on our Careers page.

Virginia Health Services welcomes second class of apprentices

The apprenticeship class works on patient care, including how to change linens, with instructor Nora Gillespie.

The second class of Care Assistant apprentices began classroom skills work this week at Virginia Health Services’ Employment, Enrichment and Education Center (EEE).

The six apprentices are part of the Healthcare Apprenticeship Extension Program, which is partially funded by a grant from the Department of Labor.

The apprentices spend three weeks at the EEE before moving onto clinical units and skills lab training at York Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center for two weeks.

The EEE training in Virginia Health Services’ Newport News campus is led by Nora Gillespie. Within the first two days, participants said they already are learning a lot. They learned hygiene, proper hand washing, how to properly move a patient and change bed linens, and other fundamentals of patient care.

Before the skills work in the EEE, their training focused more on non-clinical skills such as feeding and waste collection.

Completion of the five-week earn-as-you-learn training program prepares apprentices for the exam to be a Certified Nursing Aide. The program includes covering the cost of the certification exam.

The first class of Nurse Aides graduated April 22, and those six apprentices are working as Nursing Assistants at several facilities, including those within VHS, as they prepare for the certification exam.

Apprenticeship classes are ongoing throughout the year. Click here for the latest application.

VHS has a continual need for CAs, CNAs, LPNs and RNs. Visit the Careers page for details.

Virginia Health Services’ first class of apprentices graduates

First class of Virginia Health Services apprentices graduates

The first class of Virginia Health Services’ apprentices graduated April 22, 2021, from CAs to Nursing Assistants. The ceremony was in Styron Square at Port Warwick in Newport News.

Virginia Health Services recently launched a partnership with the Healthcare Apprenticeship Extension Program, and it already has reached a milestone.

The first class of apprentices graduated Thursday on Styron Square at Port Warwick in Newport News. The six grads completed Care Assistant training and will continue their education as Nursing Assistants.

The ceremony on the Square celebrated the completion of multi-week on-the-job training at York Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center.

The graduates will continue their training to culminate with the CNA exam, paid for by the apprenticeship program, to certify them.

Graduates Sabrina Baylor (Valedictorian), Keirah Hall (Salutatorian), Tracy Green, Tina Lee, Niya Owens and Elizabeth Steere and their families braved the chilly weather to celebrate their achievements.

Their instructor, Nora Gillespie, RN, told them, “Lead with your heart. You have the opportunity to touch a life.”

Valedictorian Sabrina Baylor receives her certificate from instructor Nora Gillespie.

She said she was impressed by the group’s teamwork to get through their skills training and classwork.

“You have heart. You have compassion,” she said. “You’ll need all of it.”

Gillespie also helped Baylor get through her speech when she was overcome with emotion.

“I’m just so proud of everybody,” Baylor said, as the group wiped tears from their eyes.

Certificates were presented by VHS Director of Education Bryanna Rhodes, instructors Ann Armstrong and Gillespie, Process Improvement Manager Cerissa Atkins, and VHS Vice President of Operations Don Lundin, who gave opening remarks.

The apprentices, their family members, and VHS team members enjoyed light refreshments in the Square following the ceremony.

Several of the apprentices are going to work at other VHS facilities, including Walter Reed and Lancashire Convalescent and Rehabilitation Centers.

“You’re getting good ones,” Gillespie said.

The earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program is ongoing throughout the year, with the next class of CAs starting May 3. Learn more and apply on our Careers page.

VHS aims to grow the program to include apprenticeships for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), pharmacy technicians, and housekeeping and culinary positions.

 

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